News From : DagangHalal.com (30 Sep 2010)
BANGKOK, Sept 30 (Bernama) — Malaysia needs to set up a Halal Science Centre in order to grab the vast opportunities available in the international Halal industry worth more that US$2 trillion.
Pointing this out, Deputy President of the Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce (MICC) Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim said such a centre would also contribute towards the global production and preparation of halal products.
It would also complement Malaysia’s efforts to establish the country as a world halal hub, he said.
Apart from an Institute of Halal Standard, Thailand also has a Halal Science Centre (HSC), the first such centre in the world and it has been able to come up with innovations in the identification and verification of halal food products produced in the country and several other countries through its HAL-Q system.
The HAL-Q offers assurance of hygiene, reliability and quality combined with halal qualities of cleanliness and safety, and Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point as well as the ISO Standard, making it the benchmark for all producers of halal products in Thailand.
“This call being made by MICC is not aimed at competing with Thailand, but instead to complement each other in the move to grab the opportunities wide open in the Halal world (food sector) estimated currently at more than US$269 billion. This does not include the non food sector products and halal services worth US$2 trillion,” he said during a three-day trip to Bangkok recently.
The visit, organised by the Embassy of Thailand in Malaysia was aimed at enabling MICC members to get the latest information on investment and business opportunities in the country besides boosting investors confidence in Thai’s economy following the global economic crisis last year.
The 12-member delegation, comprising leading figures from the corporate investment, property, entrepreneurial and plantation sectors, as well as members of the Halal sector’s administrative and management systems, also paid a courtesy call to the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Dr Trairong Suwankiri.
They were also briefed on the development of trade and investment in the country by the Vice President of Thailand’s Chamber of Commerce (TCC) and Board of Trade (BOT) Somkiat Anuras.
Thailand’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Thana Duangratana, also accompanied the delegation where meetings were also set up with the Chairman of TCC and BOT Dusit Nontanakorn, among others.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Ali said there were also plans by Japan, Vietnam and China to set up their own Halal centres and that it was important for Malaysia not to be left behind considering its pioneering role in the business.
He said image and standard were catch words in the development of the Halal business and therefore it was important for Malaysia to build its edge so that it can compete in the international Halal arena via the application of science and technologies developed in such a Halal science centres.
Muhammad Ali said MICC was also urging the government to have an audit system for Halal products to ensure that its producers, manufacturers and others in the trade complied with the principles of Halal.
This will reduce the burden as well as complement JAKIM or Malaysia’s Islamic Religious Department in their halal logo and certification work.
“We are in the midst of coming up with a working paper on it (halal audit system) and are gathering feedback from leaders in the field before presenting it to the government for approval,” he said.
— BERNAMA